Question of the Week: An Ensign in the Wars

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What was the role of an Ensign during the French and Indian War how this. I am particularly in Israel Robinson, who is listed as an ensign on pg. 372, vol. 22 of “North Carolina Colonial and State Records.” (Call#R975.6 N81295)

Thanks for your question regarding the Military Rank of Ensign during the French and Indian War.

I checked the entry you referred to in “North Carolina Colonial and State Records,” and see that they list the officers in the following order: Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, & Sergeant. Based on this, it appears that the Rank of Ensign was immediately below Lieutenant and above Seargeant. Looking at the other companies from Granville County, NC, there are typically a single Lieutenant, a single Ensign, and three or four Sergeants in each company. In searching online, I found a couple of articles that appear to confirm this arrangement.

To find out more about the responsibilities and daily life of an Ensign, you might be interested in the following articles:

–Edmund Munroe, Orderly Book of Rogers’ Rangers, New England Historic and Genealogical Register, vol. 16 (July 1862), pp. 217-220. Remnants of an orderly book kept at Lake George and Fort Edward 7 August-9 November 1758. Munroe was an Ensign in the Rangers

–Ensign Moses Dorr, A Journal of an Expedition Against Canaday By Moses Dorr Ensin of Capt Parkers Company Roxbury May 25th 1758, New York History, vol. XVI no. 4 (October 1935), pp. 452-464.

Also, if you’re interested in reading books about the French and Indian War, we can recommend a few titles.

I hope this information is useful to you. Thanks again for your request, and please let us know if you need further assistance.